Feeding mechanism



E. R. ANDERSON FEEDING MECHANISM Aug. l1, 1942.

2l Sheets-Sl'leet 1 FIE I 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1940 Y /5 PIE| E w w A ATTORNEY Aug. 1 1", 1942 i E. R. ANDERSON` y 2,292,594

FEIIEDING MECHANSM Filed Nov. 1s, 19 2 sheets-sheet 2 lNvN-roR far/ ,6. nder'fon ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,292,594 FEEDING MECHANISM Earl R. Anderson, Campbell, Calif.l Application November 16, 1940, serial No. 365,882

17 Claims.

This invention relates to feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks to be used in conjunction with ice Crushers, ice cubers, and the like, and is concerned more particularly with improved construction of a positive and safe nature.

It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide an improved feed mechanism for delivering articles such as ice blocks to processing mechanism of a dangerous character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feed mechanism of the character referred to which is safe in operation and which minimizes chances of injury to the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feed mechanism of the character referred to which is of a simple and positive character and is not liable to misoperation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of ice feeding mechanism embodying `the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the parts in an intermediate operating position during movement of the ice into position for delivery to the processing mechanism;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 4 4 in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2 but showing the ice feeding mechanism in position to deliver ice to the processing means associated therewith;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the mechanism, partly broken away to illustrate details of the construction;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line I-I in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a suitable frame or casing I0 is shown for a conventional form of ice processing means such as an ice crusher or an ice cuber adapted for use with rectangular blocks of ice such as those commonly sold to the public either through the regular delivery channelsor through coin controlled vending machines. As seen in Figure l, the upper portion of the frame I0 is provided with a ledge II adjacent an opening I2 for feeding an ice block to a Crusher mechanism, for example (not shown). The casing I0 is also provided with an inclined upper wall I3 which is connected to the main body of the casing at one end and also at its sides by respective side walls I4.

The feed mechanism includes an ice feeding box or container I5 which is mounted for tilting movement between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position. In its normal ice receiving position shown in Figure 1 the box rests upon the ledge I I. One side wall of the box I 6 is provided with a door II mounted by hinges I8 and having a handle I9. The side of the box adjacent the door I I is formed asa discharge opening 2i. The opening 2l is iianked by side extensions 22. 'I'he mounting means for the box include respective rollers 23 provided at the upper ends of the extensions 22 which engage in respective inclined guide tracks 24 secured along the inclined edge of the side walls I4 of the main casing. At their lower ends the extensions 22 are provided with respective rollers 26 (Figures 2, 5 and 7) which engage in respective short guide tracks 2l. Each guide track 2l is mounted on a side wall of the casing I0 in inclined position and approximately at right angles to and centrally of the respective tracks 2.4.

VThe guide tracks 24 and'2'I with their cooperating connections with the box I6 control tilting movement of the box from its ice receiving position shown in Figure 1 to its ice discharging position shown in Figure 5. In the ice-receiving position, a block of ice can be placed in the box by opening door II. In the discharging position, the discharge opening 2| faces downwardly for discharge of ice into the casing I0 for processing by the means therein. The ice block is preferably discharged at an angle of about l15" to the horizontal.

Movable closure means is associated with the discharge opening 2| which closes this opening in the ice receiving position of the box so that access to the processing means cannot be had through the box. -The closure means is movable during tilting of the box to free the discharge opening in the ice discharging position of the box. Such closure means preferably comprises a pair of hinged pans 3l and 32 pivotally connected to each other aboutl rod 33 as an axis. Rod 33 is provided with rollers 34 at its ends engaging in the respective inclined frame tracks 24. A coil spring 36 is provided about the rod 33 and engages the respective pans 3| and 32 to urge such pans apart to the position shown in Figure l. The pan 3l at its other end is formed pivotally about a rod 4I having respective rollers 42 (Figure '7) which engage with respective similar tracks 43 provided on the inner faces of the extensions 22 and extending for the full length of such extensions. The upper end of the pan 32 is provided with respective apertured flanges 46 pivoted to the box coaxially with rollers 23.

To maintain the box I6 yieldably in the position shown in Figure 1 and to assist in returning the box to such position, a pair of parallel springs 48 are tensioned between the respective orders of the pan 3| and the respective walls |4 of the casing. If desired also, a second pair of parallel springs 49 (Figures 1 and 5) may be provided between box I6 and the side walls I4 tending to urge the lower left hand corner of the box to the position shown in Figure l. The pairs of springs 48 and 49 exert their respective pulls substantially parallel to the tracks 24 and 21 and serve to counterbalance the weight of the box and the ice during movement of the box from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 5 in addition to assisting the return of the box from its ice discharging to its ice receiving position.

From the above description, it is seen that the box I6 is tiltably mounted on the frame for movement between an ice receiving position in which the door |1 can be opened and in which the ice discharge opening 2| is closed by the pans 3| and 32, and an ice discharging position as shown in Figure 5 wherein the door is maintained closed by virtue of its overlapping relation with one of the side walls I4 and in which theice discharge opening 2| is opened by virtue of the collapsing of the pans 3| and 32. As shown in Figure 5 in the ice discharging position the pan 32 forms a limit stop for the tilted position of the box. In this position pan 3| is substantially parallel to the box bottom and forms therewith a guide for the feeding movement of the ice both as to direction of feed and as to alignment of the ice with respect to the ice processing means.

In operation, with the box positioned as in Figure 1, door is opened and the ice block is installed in the box. Door is then closed and the box is tilted from the position of Figure 1. In the open condition of the door, its interlocking engagement with the casing I prevents any tilting of the box.

As the box I6 is initially tilted from the position shown-in Figure l, the pan 32 starts its downward travel along the track 24 while the pan 3| starts pivoting about the rod 33 so that its rod 4| travels up the track 43 in front of the ice block, retaining the ice block in place during the tilting movement. During such tilting movement the lower edge of the box is guided in the tracks 21, the rollers 26 traveling from one end of the track to the other during the tilting movement. These movements are indicated .by the arrows in Figure 2.

As seen in Figure 5, when the box reaches its ice discharging position, the pan 3| has been folded parallel to the pan 32 to leave the discharge opening 2| entirely free for discharge of ice. Pan 3| also guides the ice block and resists any sidewise tilting thereof. After the ice block has moved from the box into engagement with the processing means therefor as indicated in dotted lines at in Figure 5, the block remains in overlapping engagement with the pan 3| to lock the box in its tilted position until the ice is entirely fed into the casing Ill, i. e., to the processing mechanism.

After substantially complete processing of the ice block when it will have moved past the pan 3|, the box I6 can be tilted back to the position shown in Figure 1 for recharging with another ice block.

It will be noted that with the box I6 in the position shown in Figure 1, the processing means within the casing is entirely inaccessible to the operator. With the door open, the same condition obtains because the pan 3| completely blocks access through the box to the processing means. Access to the processing means is also prevented with the box in tilted position because the door is locked in closed position and access thereto cannot be had past the bottom of the box.

I claim:

1. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a box having a door for admission of an ice block, said box having a discharge opening, means mounting said box for tilting movement between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, said mounting means including guide means on said frame, and closure means for said opening connected to said box for movement simultaneously therewith, said closure means being operative to close said opening with said box in ice receiving position -and to free said opening with Ysaid box in ice discharging position, said closure means including an element extending across said opening to prevent discharge of said ice during tilting movement of said box until said box reaches ice discharging position.

2. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, means for receiving and supporting an ice block for delivery through a discharge opening, closure means for said opening, and means for controlling movement of said closure means to effect positioning thereof to close said opening for ice receiving operations, and to free said opening for ice discharging operations, said closure means being positioned parallel to the ice supporting wall of said receiving and supporting means in the ice discharging position of said closure means and providing a guide surface spaced from said wall to assist in controlling the position of the ice block during discharge thereof.

3. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a box having a door for admission of an ice block, said box having a discharge opening, means mounting said box for tilting movement between an ice receiving position in which said opening faces horizontally and an ice discharging position in which said opening faces downwardly, said mounting means including guide means on said frame, and closure means for said opening connected to said box for movement simultaneously therewith, said closure means being operative to close said opening with said box in ice receiving position and to free said opening with said box in ice discharging position, said closure means including a pair of hingedly connected pans, one of said pans being hinged to said box at the top of the discharge opening and the other of said pans having its ends slidably connected to travel from the bottom to the top of said discharge opening during tilting of the box to ice discharging position.

4. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a box having a door for admission of an ice block, said box having a discharge opening, means mounting said box for movement between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, said mounting means including guide means on said frame, and clo- Sure means for said opening connected to said box for movement simultaneously therewith, said closure means being operative to close said opening with said box in ice receiving position and to free said opening with said box in ice discharging position, said closure means including a pair of hingedly connected members, one of said members being hinged to said box adjacent one side of the discharge opening and the other of said members having its ends slidably connected to said box and said guide means to cause one end to travel across said discharge opening during movement of the box to ice discharging position.

5. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a box having a door for admission of an ice block, said box having a discharge opening, means mounting said box for tilting movement between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, said mounting means including guide means on said frame, a closure member for said opening, said guide means including a guide track on said frame for one portion of said box and a second guide track on said frame for a second portion of said box, means connecting one edge of said member to said one portion of said box, and guide track means on said box for the opposite edge of said member. Y

6. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a box having a door for admission of an ice block, said box also having a discharge opening, means mounting said box for tilting movement between an ice receiving position in which said opening faces horizontally and an ice discharging position in which said opening faces downwardly, said mounting means ncluding guide means on the frame, said frame alsoA having means preventing opening of the door after tilting of said box from ice receiving position.

7. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a box having means for admission of an ice block and a discharge opening,

ymeans mounting said box for tilting movement between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, spring means for resisting movement of said box from said iceY receiving position and closure means for said opening connected to said box for movement simultaneously therewith, said closure means being operative to close said opening with said box in ice receiving position and to be folded out of the way during the tilting movement of the box whereby to free said opening for discharge of ice upon complete tilting of the box, said closure means in said folded position being disposed to form a continuation of the top wall of said box and to form a guide surface for resisting twisting of said ice block during discharge thereof.

8. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a box having a door for admission of an ice block, and a discharge opening, means mounting said box for tilting movement between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, and closure means for said opening connected to said box for movement simultaneously therewith, said closure means being operative to close said opening with said box in ice receiving position and to be folded out of the way during the tilting movement of the box whereby to free said opening for discharge of ice upon complete tilting of the box, said closure means in the ice discharging position of said box being disposed parallel to the path of travel of the ice block in leaving the box to provide a guide surface for said ice block whereby said ice block is guided by said closure means and prevents movement of said closure means from its folded position until complete discharge of the ice is effected.

9. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a box having a door for admission of an ice block and a discharge opening, means mounting said box for movement between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, and closure means for said opening connected to said box for movement simultaneously therewith, said closure means being operative to close said opening with said box in ice receiving position and to be folded out of the way during the movement of the box wherebyto free said opening for discharge of ice, said closure means in the ice discharging position of said box being disposed parallel to the path of travel of the ice block in leaving the box to provide a guide surface for said ice block.

l0. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a pair of inclined guide tracks on said frame, said guide tracks being disposed at an angle to each other, an ice feeding box having adischarge opening, said box having an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, means slidably connecting the upper portion of said box to one of said guide tracks, means slidably connecting the lower portion of said box to the other of said guide tracks, said tracks controlling movement of said Vbox between said positions,V a third guide track on said box disposed vertically on said box, and a closure element for said discharge opening having one edge slidably connected to said first guide track and to said upper portion of said box and its opposite edge slidably connected to said third guide track.

11. In a mechanism for feeding articles such as ice blocks to processing means, said processing means having a casing with a feed opening, means for feeding an ice block through said feed opening without permitting manual access thereto including a box having a discharge opening for registry with said feed opening, means mounting said box with respect to said feed opening whereby access to said feed opening is possible only through said box, said mounting means providing for movement of said box between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, a door for feeding of ice into said box, a closure element for said box discharge opening operative in the ice feeding position of said box, and means becoming operative upon movement of said box away from said ice feeding position for preventing opening of said door.

12. In a mechanism for feeding articles such as ice blocks to processing means, said processing means having a casing with a feed opening, means for feeding an ice block through said feeding opening without permitting manual access thereto including a box having a discharge opening for registry with said feed opening, means mounting said box with respect to said feeding opening whereby access to said feed opening is possible only through said box, said mounting means providing for movement of said box between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, a door for feeding of ice into said box, a closure element for said box discharge opening operative only in the ice feeding position of said box, relative movement between said box and said closure element during movement of said box from ice receiving positionto ice discharging position serving to free said discharge opening from said closure element, and means becoming operative upon movement of said box away from said ice feeding position for preventing opening of said door.

13. In a mechanism for feeding articles such as ice blocks to processing means, said processing means having a casing with a feed opening, means for feeding an ice block through said feeding opening without permitting manual access thereto including a box having a discharge opening for registry with said feed opening-means mounting said box with respect to said feeding opening whereby access to said feed opening is possible only through said box, said mounting means providing for movement of said box between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, a door for feeding of ice into said box, a closure element for said box discharge opening operative only in the ice feeding position of said box, means becoming operative upon movement of said box away from said ice feeding position for preventing opening of said door and means on said frame for interlocking engagement with said door in its open position to prevent movement of said box from ice receiving position,

14. In a mechanism for feeding articles such as ice blocks to processing means, said processing means having a casing with a feed opening, means for feeding an ice block through said feed opening without permitting manual access thereto including an ice receiving and supporting structure arranged with respect to said feed opening whereby access to said feed opening is possible only through said structure, a door for feeding of ice into said structure, a movable closure element for preventing access from said structure to said opening, and means becoming operative upon movement of said closure element to allow feeding of ice through said opening for preventing opening of said door.

15. In a mechanism for feeding articles such 'as ice blocks to processing means, said processing means having a casing with a feed opening,

means for feeding an ice block through said feed opening without permitting manual access thereto including an ice receiving and supporting structure arranged with respect to said feed opening whereby access to said feed opening is possible only through said structure, a door for feeding of ice into said structure, a movable closure element for preventing access from said structure to said opening, means for preventing movement of said closure element from its operative blocking position with said door open, and means becoming operative upon movement of said closure element to allow feeding of ice through said opening for preventing opening of said door.

16. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a box having a door for admission of an ice block, said box having a discharge opening, means mounting said box for tilting movement between an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, said mounting means including guide means on said frame, said guide means including a guide track on said frame for one portion of said box and a second guide track on said frame for a second portion of said box, and closure means for said opening including a linkage connected to one portion of said box and guide track means on said box for another portion of said linkage.

1'7. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as ice blocks, a frame, a pair of inclined guide tracks on said frame, said guide tracks being disposed at an angle to each other, an ice feeding box having a discharge opening, said box having an ice receiving position and an ice discharging position, means slidably connecting one portion of said box to one of said guide tracks, means slidably connecting another portion of said box to the other of said guide tracks, said tracks controlling movement of said box between said positions, a third guide track on said box, and closure means for said discharge opening having controlling connections to said rst and third guide tracks.

EARL R. ANDERSON. 

